Week 42

Research and evaluate with discernment.

This is hard because there are so many 'authorities' in today's world giving advice, advice that will not benefit your health and vitality.  Don't blindly accept everything that you are told or that you read as truth.  Work to develop your skills of discernment this week.

It is critical to your health and general well-being to learn how to evaluate information that you happen upon - whether you read something, hear something or even touch, smell, or taste something.  There is much information and many theories that are against what God teaches us in the Bible.  It takes awareness and practice to be able to research things with discernment.

Here are some guidelines I use to evaluate new information:

1.  What is the motivation behind the group or person who is presenting the information?  This is so key when discerning the validity or truth of something.  In today's world, making money is the primary focus of so many, not necessarily your long term health or quality of life.  

2.  Does the information conflict in any way with what is written in the Bible?  Is the information in agreement with what God has established or instructed us to do?  Evaluate new information with a Biblical worldview, asking if this is how God intended things to be done or if the information is twisted with deception.  Be cognizant of the marketing ploys that you are being bombarded with.  Ploys to entice you to try a product, whether a new brand of chips or a new drug to relieve your headaches, telling you what you want to hear without providing all the details such as adverse health effects. 

3.  What are both sides of the situation saying and again, what is the motivation of both sides?  There is so much information available on-line - be sure to look at multiple articles and sites when investigating something. 

4.  What is your motivation?  Is it for a quick fix without making any difficult changes (such as addressing your food addictions or changing your diet or lifestyle).  A quick fix of symptoms with man-made medication without addressing the underlying problem is a very prevalent mindset for everyone in today's society and so extremely detrimental to health.  We all (including me) want a 'magic' bullet because we have seen quick results with man-made drugs but this is usually not God's way for vitality and long term good health.  We also want what is most convenient, such as fast food, which also is not God's way and will not result in vitality and long term good health.

5.  What are the results or effects that others have experienced?  I like to find first hand accounts describing exactly what others have done or experienced, and as much detail about the subject as possible.  It is very important to understand the pros and cons and long term side-effects to your health.

6.  After collecting information on a subject, I pray about the matter.  God has many times shown me what is false or the loop-holes in a situation after I've prayed about it.  Don't skip this critical step in discerning the truth; for the world's wisdom is foolishness to God and it is easy to be deceived.  "Do not deceive yourselves.  If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a 'fool' so that he may become wise.  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight."  1 Corinthians 3:18 - 19.

7.  How long has it been around or used?  I am very leery of new foods/drugs and medical techniques and farming methods and agricultural chemicals.  Long term health and vitality are not the goals of any of these industries.  The world's wisdom is counter to God's wisdom, don't be deceived.

There are not many magic bullets; good health is built on commitment, on steady and consistent changes to your diet which you work to establish day-by-day.  The purpose of the weekly challenges is to help you take baby steps throughout the year and establish new permanent eating habits.  

Don't blindly accept everything I have written either.  With discernment, educate yourself and gain God's wisdom concerning your diet and health.  Then be intentional and implement what you have learned. 

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."  James 1:5